About Us
The Alera Group Wilson office was formerly John Hackney Agency, one of Eastern North Carolina’s most respected and enduring insurance firms, with a long history of serving businesses, families, and communities throughout the region.
Founded in 1895, the agency grew over four generations into one of Eastern North Carolina’s leading independently owned insurance and consulting firms. Built on a foundation of honesty, integrity, and exceptional client service, the agency earned a reputation for helping businesses and individuals protect what matters most while navigating an ever-changing risk environment.
In 2022, John Hackney Agency joined Alera Group, bringing together more than 130 years of local relationships and industry expertise with the expanded resources and national capabilities of one of the country’s premier independent financial services and insurance organizations.
For generations, the Wilson team has remained committed to delivering personalized service and thoughtful risk management solutions to clients across North Carolina and beyond. From small businesses and growing family-owned companies to larger regional organizations, the agency has continually evolved to meet the changing needs of its clients while maintaining the values that have guided it since the beginning.
Our Guiding Values
From the beginning, our core values have shaped every aspect of our business and continue to guide our relationships with clients, employees, and the communities we serve:
- Honesty & Integrity
- Superior Customer Service & Professionalism
- Financial Accountability
Our Solutions
We provide a comprehensive range of insurance, risk management, and employee benefits solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses and individuals. Our consultative approach allows us to better understand each client’s operations, goals, and exposures so we can recommend customized strategies designed to provide long-term protection and confidence.
Our experience ranges from protecting growing businesses to advising families with complex personal insurance needs and high-value assets.
Business Insurance & Risk Management
We help businesses manage risk through customized coverage solutions that may include:
- Commercial Property & Casualty Insurance
- General Liability
- Commercial Auto
- Workers’ Compensation
- Professional & Management Liability
- Cyber & Crime Coverage
- Employee Benefits & Group Health Plans
- Transportation & Logistics Insurance
- Construction & Contractor Programs
- Umbrella & Excess Liability Coverage
- Surety & Bonding Solutions
Personal Insurance Solutions
We provide personalized insurance solutions designed to protect individuals, families, and their most valuable assets. From primary residences to vacation properties and high-value collections, our team works closely with clients to create customized coverage strategies that provide confidence and peace of mind.
Our personal insurance solutions include:
- Homeowners Insurance
- High-Value & High Net Worth Home Coverage
- Coastal & Secondary Home Insurance
- Automobile Insurance
- Boat & Watercraft Insurance
- Flood Insurance
- Inland Marine Coverage
- Fine Arts & Antiques Coverage
- Valuable Articles & Jewelry Coverage
- Personal Umbrella Liability Coverage
- Renters Insurance
Whether protecting a family home, a second home at the North Carolina coast, a valuable art collection, or other unique personal assets, we help clients secure coverage tailored to their lifestyle and risk exposures.
Industries We Serve
Over the years, we have worked with clients across a wide range of industries, including:
Agribusiness, construction, manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, real estate, hospitality, financial services, retail, professional services, education, nonprofit organizations, technology, wholesalers and distributors, and many other small and mid-sized businesses throughout North Carolina and beyond.
Today, as part of Alera Group, the Wilson office continues its long-standing tradition of trusted local service while offering clients access to expanded resources, specialized expertise, and innovative solutions designed to help them grow and succeed for generations to come.
Looking for an insurance agent in Wilson, NC? We are here ready to help! Since 1985, the Wilson office has been supporting its clients. In 2022, our office (formerly John Hackney Insurance), joined Alera Group.
Meet Our Team
Brittany Baker
Personal Lines Account Manager
As the newest member of the John Hackney Agency team, Brittany hails from a Nash County musical family that many Eastern North Carolinians already know – the southern gospel group, Oak Grove Boys. While she may be too shy to perform onstage with her outgoing family, she’s not too shy to help you with any of your insurance needs.
Brittany lives in Elm City with her husband Chase Baker and their daughters Cheyenne and Audrey. Most of their time is spent outdoors either on a river fishing or around a soccer field as Cheyenne is an avid soccer player. Brittany enjoys crafting, scrapbooking and cooking especially her grandmother’s signature blueberry cobbler and chocolate fudge sheet cake. Family nights are another favorite way to spend her free time with all her family when they get together for some country cooking, old-fashioned games and, of course, music. Brittany has a soft spot for animals and helped her grandfather, Junior Winstead, raise and train beagles. She enjoys fishing and just about anything outdoors.
Rikevea Watson
Personal Account Manager
Rikevea started her career in insurance at John Hackney Agency in April 2024. Even though she never considered insurance before, 3 weeks after starting, she was licensed. Rikevea is a Personal Lines Account Manager. Her background is filled with customer service mostly IT support so she understands the needs to provide.
She was born and raised in Martin County. 10 years ago, she and her husband Justin made Wilson their new home. A home they share with their 2 daughters Charlie and Kori. Some of Rikevea favorites are movie nights with the kids, traveling, and trying new restaurants with Justin.
Ann Burnette CISR, CBIA
Commercial Lines Account Manager
Ann Burnette brings over 30 years of insurance experience and knowledge as an Account Manager in our Commercial Insurance Department. She started her insurance career in 1985 working with a local agency in Rocky Mount, NC. She has her Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) Elite designation and obtained the Certified Builders Insurance Agent (CBIA) designation in 2006.
She is a lifelong resident of Nash County and currently lives in Castalia, NC with her husband Earl, youngest son Colt, their dog Rufus and two cats. Their oldest son Trevor lives in South Carolina with his wife and daughter. In her free time, Ann enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, fishing and camping.
Teresa Wheeler
Commercial Lines Account Manager
Teresa was born and raised in North Carolina and lives in Wilson with her husband, Bobby, and their dog Rip. Her greatest hobby is watching sports, and she loves dog sitting, and helping find homes for stray animals.
She began her insurance career in 1993 and started working with the John Hackney Agency in 1999. She enjoys helping our customers and getting to know them to find the best insurance coverage for them.
Working as an independent agent with the John Hackney Agency has been a very pleasant experience for Teresa, and she hopes to have many more years with the Agency.
Resources
Our team specializes in a variety of solutions, including:
- Auto, Home, RV Coverage and more
- Professional and Financial Solutions
- Property and Casualty Solutions
- Long-term Care Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Health Insurance – If you're an individual or family who does not currently have insurance through a group employer plan, we offer individual health plans. If you own a business, we can assist with comparing group coverages offerings.
- Claims Management. When a claim happens, we want to help you as promptly as possible. Please feel free to stop by or call one of our offices to report a claim or let us help you with any questions you might have. If it’s after hours and you need to talk to someone immediately, you can contact the carrier directly for 24-hour claims service.
To report a claim: You can call us, stop by our office or call the company to report a claim. If you choose to contact the company, have your policy number on hand before calling.
To make a direct bill payment or manage your billing: Most of our companies have 24 hour payment services. Remember to have your policy number and your bank account or credit card information on hand before you make the call. You can also stop by our office where we’ll be happy to assist you with your direct bill payments.
Pay now: https://johnhackneyagency.epaypolicy.com/
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
GLP-1s at Scale: Why Weight-Loss Drug Decisions Are Now a Financial Strategy
A GLP-1 decision framework plus scenarios.
July 21, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Register Here
Employee Benefits
Open Enrollment That Works: Why Employees Do Not Engage — and How Modern Communications Drive Better Choices
Practical communication strategies to strengthen open enrollment effectiveness and employee decision-making.
August 18, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Register Here
Employee Benefits
The Compliance Pathway Q3
Don't miss this ongoing opportunity to ensure you comply with current regulations and are prepared for what's ahead.
September 2, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Register Here
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
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If you use AI to support or deliver professional services, any mistake it makes is still your responsibility. Not the software’s. Not the vendor’s. Yours.
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Cyber incidents across our client base have been sharper, faster and more costly this year. Even organizations with strong controls are being hit in ways that look very different from past attacks.
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AI-Powered Cyber Attacks, Why Yesterday’s Defenses Aren’t Enough.
The widespread availability of AI technology, combined with the ease of manipulating video calls, makes phone and Zoom calls susceptible to exploitation by threat actors.
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